Your Character's Name: Bordeaux Thoruss I stopped at that tavern on my way. I don’t remember what it was named. There were four other people sitting at the table when I arrived. Strange bunch, they were. The girl, the only other girl in the party, Claire was it? She was on some quest to find lost technology. Seemed like an empty reason to go on living if you ask me. I can’t recall what the others wanted to do, it was loud; I couldn’t hear very well. I do remember Rio. He managed to pay off the barkeep somehow with his silver-tongued talents. I don’t like slick talkers. They talk their way into bad situations. Well, at least this party has the brawn to break us out of them. I’m not going to be much help, after all. They don’t know that though. Not yet.
We were off before I knew it. We walked a while, monotonously putting one foot in front of the other when a few of us heard something near an old apartment complex. I didn’t care much about it. I don’t have time to chase every noise we hear, especially if it’s just a child. If it’s not a danger to us, why do we need to confront it? The one called Winston wished to explore the place, as did the rest of the party. Am I the only one with common sense? How is it smart to go into an old decrepit building that could be filled to the rim with raiders? Only the door stood in the way of us and danger. Since nobody was going to go ahead, I rush past them and try to feign bravery. I slam my shoulder into the door while turning the rusty doorknob. I’m thin enough, luckily, and can fit through the crack in the door. My coat snags on something, and out of sheer panic I gasp. How embarrassing. I’m not looking to impress anyone, but just one sign of weakness and I’ll be torn apart.
We step into the apartment building, or what was left of one, to face a wonderfully safe looking flight of stairs. I look back at the party, straining my eyes to meet theirs. “I suppose you want me to go up first?” I spit out.
“Well, the lightest person should go first, just to be safe.” One of the men said. It’s true, as much as I’d like to disprove it. I clamber up the stairs, getting my feet caught and tripping over my pride as I make my way up to the second floor. Can’t I do anything without making a fool of myself? Reaching the landing, I fiddle with the ring on my finger, closing my eyes and gaining my composure once again. I hear very little struggle from behind me. “Of course!” I shout. “Of course, just show me up. Go ahead. I’ve got nothing to prove!” An extra dose of sarcasm and spite would add up as an overreaction. But they wouldn’t think twice of it, coming from me.
I let the rest of them go ahead of me. Whatever they had planned, I didn’t want to be a part of it. Rio, being royally blessed with all the authority, burst through a random door down the hallway. I feel the tension rise as the hairs on the back of our necks unite against gravity.
“What are you doing in my house?!” A middle aged woman’s voice bounced off the walls and into my ears. I wait a minute, trying to hear any sign of combat. Seeing Rio step into the doorway with his hands up, he tries to comfort the frightened woman.
“Don’t worry; we aren’t here to hurt you.” He pauses for a moment. “We’re just on a mission.” Noticing only silence, I push my way through the small crowd to get a peek. A frazzled looking woman stands defensively, knife in hand.
“What do you want, then?!” She’s shaky, nervous. It’s contagious.
“Have you come across any hostile parties?” Rio asked softly. At least he’s not jumping right into confrontation. I suppose this one’s not as bad as most.
She’s wary, suspicious. “Hostile? That depends on who you are standing with…” her neck cranes to see all of us in the hallway. She has every right to be uneasy. Rio assures her that we are as good as gold. I get bored with the situation.
“Can we get going now?” We don’t have time for this!
Rio ignores my request, instead pulling a mug from his pack and offers it to her. Two greasy children run out from behind a barricade of a counter and steal it away.
My interest piqued, or maybe my boredom, and I speak up. “Why do you have so many kids?” She was unhappy at this question.
“They’re orphans! I can’t just let them die!”
She explained how she was working with, or for, the Bandits of the Hood. They give her money to care for the kids apparently. Well, whatever. Everyone has theirs, I suppose. She turns her attention back to Rio.
“I suppose the kids can have something nice.” Her face softens. “I can give you something in return. I’ve had it sitting around for a while…” trailing off, her voice strains when Rio tries to sneak, or something, around the small space. A large chained chest sits in the corner of the room. She’s very protective of it, defensive even. Giving up, Rio retreats towards the door as the woman brings a box of broken glass, or was it batteries? It doesn’t matter. If it’s not my husband, it’s not of my interest. Thanking the woman for the box of junk, Rio motions to move out. We finally exit the musty place. Fresh air is nice, or whatever it is we’re breathing. Just as I think we are moving forward, a huge commotion comes from a building across the way; something about a woman with explosives.
“Really?!”
I stopped at that tavern on my way. I don’t remember what it was named. There were four other people sitting at the table when I arrived. Strange bunch, they were. The girl, the only other girl in the party, Claire was it? She was on some quest to find lost technology. Seemed like an empty reason to go on living if you ask me. I can’t recall what the others wanted to do, it was loud; I couldn’t hear very well. I do remember Rio. He managed to pay off the barkeep somehow with his silver-tongued talents. I don’t like slick talkers. They talk their way into bad situations. Well, at least this party has the brawn to break us out of them. I’m not going to be much help, after all. They don’t know that though. Not yet.
We were off before I knew it. We walked a while, monotonously putting one foot in front of the other when a few of us heard something near an old apartment complex. I didn’t care much about it. I don’t have time to chase every noise we hear, especially if it’s just a child. If it’s not a danger to us, why do we need to confront it? The one called Winston wished to explore the place, as did the rest of the party. Am I the only one with common sense? How is it smart to go into an old decrepit building that could be filled to the rim with raiders? Only the door stood in the way of us and danger. Since nobody was going to go ahead, I rush past them and try to feign bravery. I slam my shoulder into the door while turning the rusty doorknob. I’m thin enough, luckily, and can fit through the crack in the door. My coat snags on something, and out of sheer panic I gasp. How embarrassing. I’m not looking to impress anyone, but just one sign of weakness and I’ll be torn apart.
We step into the apartment building, or what was left of one, to face a wonderfully safe looking flight of stairs. I look back at the party, straining my eyes to meet theirs. “I suppose you want me to go up first?” I spit out.
“Well, the lightest person should go first, just to be safe.” One of the men said. It’s true, as much as I’d like to disprove it. I clamber up the stairs, getting my feet caught and tripping over my pride as I make my way up to the second floor. Can’t I do anything without making a fool of myself? Reaching the landing, I fiddle with the ring on my finger, closing my eyes and gaining my composure once again. I hear very little struggle from behind me. “Of course!” I shout. “Of course, just show me up. Go ahead. I’ve got nothing to prove!” An extra dose of sarcasm and spite would add up as an overreaction. But they wouldn’t think twice of it, coming from me.
I let the rest of them go ahead of me. Whatever they had planned, I didn’t want to be a part of it. Rio, being royally blessed with all the authority, burst through a random door down the hallway. I feel the tension rise as the hairs on the back of our necks unite against gravity.
“What are you doing in my house?!” A middle aged woman’s voice bounced off the walls and into my ears. I wait a minute, trying to hear any sign of combat. Seeing Rio step into the doorway with his hands up, he tries to comfort the frightened woman.
“Don’t worry; we aren’t here to hurt you.” He pauses for a moment. “We’re just on a mission.” Noticing only silence, I push my way through the small crowd to get a peek. A frazzled looking woman stands defensively, knife in hand.
“What do you want, then?!” She’s shaky, nervous. It’s contagious.
“Have you come across any hostile parties?” Rio asked softly. At least he’s not jumping right into confrontation. I suppose this one’s not as bad as most.
She’s wary, suspicious. “Hostile? That depends on who you are standing with…” her neck cranes to see all of us in the hallway. She has every right to be uneasy. Rio assures her that we are as good as gold. I get bored with the situation.
“Can we get going now?” We don’t have time for this!
Rio ignores my request, instead pulling a mug from his pack and offers it to her. Two greasy children run out from behind a barricade of a counter and steal it away.
My interest piqued, or maybe my boredom, and I speak up. “Why do you have so many kids?” She was unhappy at this question.
“They’re orphans! I can’t just let them die!”
She explained how she was working with, or for, the Bandits of the Hood. They give her money to care for the kids apparently. Well, whatever. Everyone has theirs, I suppose. She turns her attention back to Rio.
“I suppose the kids can have something nice.” Her face softens. “I can give you something in return. I’ve had it sitting around for a while…” trailing off, her voice strains when Rio tries to sneak, or something, around the small space. A large chained chest sits in the corner of the room. She’s very protective of it, defensive even. Giving up, Rio retreats towards the door as the woman brings a box of broken glass, or was it batteries? It doesn’t matter. If it’s not my husband, it’s not of my interest. Thanking the woman for the box of junk, Rio motions to move out. We finally exit the musty place. Fresh air is nice, or whatever it is we’re breathing. Just as I think we are moving forward, a huge commotion comes from a building across the way; something about a woman with explosives.
“Really?!”